Sanctions imposed on Belarusian fertilizers will be gradual, Lithuanian Foreign Minister says
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says European Union sanctions on the Belarusian fertilizer sector will be imposed in stages.
“Obviously, the introduction of sanctions will be step-by-step, so as not to affect the entire sector at once,” Landsbergis told DELFI.
Thus, the list of products that Belarus is forbidden to export through the EU will gradually expand. The head of the Lithuanian diplomacy would not comment further on the sanctions, as there has not yet been a final agreement on them.
According to Landsbergis, the purpose of sanctions is for the Belarusian regime to change its policy.
“The secondary effect of the sanctions is that the losses of the Belarusian regime have to be refinanced, and only Russia can do that. Thus, imposing sanctions, the EU and Lithuania are shifting a part of them on Russia, which can affect Belarus,” said the head of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.
On June 21, foreign ministers of the EU countries decided to expand the blacklist against individuals and entities of Belarus by 78 people and 8 companies. They also agreed to impose sectoral sanctions. The restrictions will affect the oil and potash industry, as well as the banking sector. They are to be approved on June 24-25.
belsat.eu
